I don’t know about you but I cringe every time I hear the word boundaries. As a leader, I always thought boundaries prevented me from doing what needed to be done. Boundaries felt like a cage, restrictive and something that held me back.
However, as I read through Dr. Henry Cloud’s new book Boundaries For Leaders, I realized I’ve been wrong. Leaders need boundaries. The key is learning how to define the boundaries.
Boundaries For Leaders Cover
Dr. Cloud is probably best known for the book Boundaries, that he co-authored with John Townsend. In Boundaries, Cloud and Townsend shared how everyone needs to have certain boundaries:
Physical Boundaries
Emotional Boundaries
Mental Boundaries
Spiritual Boundaries
The boundaries discussed in that book are fantastic and make a valid case for why we need them. However, they weren’t written in a way that directly related to leaders. This is where Boundaries For Leaders come into play.
Dr. Cloud uses the idea that a boundary is: A boundary is a structure that determines what will exist and what will not. Now, when I think of a boundary in those terms, it makes the idea of them much more palatable. Do you agree?
My Thoughts On Boundaries For Leaders
Boundaries For Leaders has begun shifting my thoughts on the ideas of boundaries. It opened me up to a new way of thinking of what boundaries are and how they can be applied to leadership, and our lives.
Dr. Cloud has done his research and paid his dues to learn about boundaries. He’s consulted with multiple companies who had high ranking executives who needed to set new boundaries. Without them, they were floundering. When they began to apply boundaries, they began to flourish. Dr. Cloud uses many of these examples in this book. I felt it brought out the ideas and showed why they worked.
Because of Boundaries For Leaders, I will begin shifting towards a leadership style that involves boundaries. This will help guide those under me and keep me in check.
What Boundaries For Leaders Will Teach You
In Boundaries For Leaders, you will discover 7 boundaries all leaders should have for effective leadership. They’ll set you up for success and a smoother running organization. These 7 boundaries will show you how to:
Help people focus their attention on the things that matter most
Build the emotional climate that drives brain functioning
Facilitate connections that boost energy and momentum
Create organizational thought patterns that limit negativity and helplessness
Identify paths for people to take control of the activities that drive results
Create high-performance teams organized around the behaviors that drive results
Lead yourself in a manner that protects the vision
As I typed those 7 seven, I couldn’t help but realize just how important they are to effective leadership. They’re not limiting in the least. No, in fact, they are freeing.
Who Could Use Boundaries For Leaders?
I think the real question is: Who couldn’t use Boundaries For Leaders? It’s a book that clearly communicates the need for boundaries within leadership and what you must do to create them.
But if I had to choose a group that could use Boundaries For Leaders the most, I’d have to say it would be young leaders who are just stepping into their leadership roles. Young leaders will benefit from the years of experience Dr. Cloud has under his belt and that he shares within the book.
It’s nice to be able to use his book to recognize the leadership traps that other leaders have fallen into because they didn’t have the boundaries they needed. Young leaders could apply these boundaries to their leadership and propel their leadership to the next level.
Where Can You Purchase Boundaries For Leaders?
Check your local bookstore to purchase Boundaries For Leaders. Supporting the small, local shop is a great way to help them succeed.
My second choice for purchasing Boundaries For Leaders would have to be Amazon. They provide the fastest shipping I’ve seen and their price is right.
If you want to purchase Boundaries For Leaders from Amazon, click here. As of this writing, they have it for $19.88, 31% off of the list price.
Question: What do you think setting boundaries could do for your leadership? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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